Are We Seeing the End of Homeopathy?

[progressoid]

Several years ago, during a lecture on Science-Based Medicine, I noted that if there were one medical pseudoscience that was vulnerable to extinction it was homeopathy. Homeopathy is perhaps the most obviously absurd medical pseudoscience. It is also widely studied, and has been clearly shown to not work. Further, there is a huge gap in the public understanding of what homeopathy is; it therefore seems plausible that the popularity of homeopathy can take a huge hit just by telling the public what it actually is.

Further, homeopathy is in a precarious regulatory position. Homeopathic products are presented and regulated as drugs, but clearly they are not, and they are also not supplements, herbal drugs, nutrition-based, or natural products. They are simply fraudulent drugs riding a wave of ignorance.

In the last few years homeopathy has had a rough time. While the industry is still growing, there are signs of clear trouble on the horizon. Let’s review:

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/are-we-seeing-the-end-of-homeopathy/

[Archae]

1. It may be in decline...

But it'll never die out.

Too much money to be made from the suckers.

[progressoid]

2. Yeah, it's good to see it in decline.

But, I too don't see it going completely away.

e.g. This couple charged in the death of their child after using homeopathic remedies and herbal therapy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/114215028

[Warpy]

3. Homeopathy is good for one population, the hypochondriacs

It's water, meaning it lacks the potential of herbs and some megavitimans to cause harm.

It also tends to thrive best when medicine that works has been priced out of range or is rationed and unavailable without a very long wait.

Hypochondriacs are a pretty small population, so the NHS is probably seeing homeopathy decline among everybody else in favor of medicine that works.

[LeftishBrit]

4. No, just dilution to the point of becoming almost non-existent...